Is Your Bio Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Jane Friedman

4 years ago

Today, over at Writer Unboxed, I discuss the importance of your bio note—that little thing that appears after stuff you write, either online or in print. I start off by observing a trend in bio notes that are very short and uninformative—mysterious, even:

As an editor and curious person, the message I take away from the writer of the short bio is: “I don’t care about, nor do I need, you or your opportunities.” … A brief bio has never stopped me from investigating a person I’m super interested in. But it’s an unnecessary stumbling block, and it’s usually the people with the super-short bios who have no websites or easy contact information.

I offer a list of 3 questions to jumpstart the bio writing process, and outline four steps to take in your overall bio strategy, which include: